The Short-Month Derby

Now with butter-flavored Add On.

Deadline does its early numbers number:

1. The Vow (Screen Gems/Sony) NEW [2,958 Theaters] Estimated Friday $15M, Estimated Weekend $39.2M

2. Safe House (Universal) NEW [3,119 Theaters] Estimated Friday $14M, Estimated Weekend $38.6M

3. Star Wars 3D: Phantom Menace (LucasFilm/Fox) NEW [2,655 Theaters] Estimated Friday $9M, Estimated Weekend $23M

4. Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (Warner Bros) NEW [3,470 Theaters] Estimated Friday $6.5M, Estimated Weekend $24.5M

5. Chronicle (Fox) Week 2 [2,908 Theater] Estimated Friday $3.6M (-58%), Estimated Weekend $12M, Estimated Cume $39M ...

For the week through Thursday: Beauty and the Beast in Three Dimensions exited the Top Ten (with $45.6 million), Steve Spielberg's two films (War Horse and Tintin) have collected coin in the mid $70 millions, and Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked has earned $128.5 million.

Add On: The Nikkster updates her totals:

1. The Vow (Screen Gems/Sony) NEW [2,958 Theaters] Est Friday $15.5M, Est Weekend $39M

2. Safe House (Universal) NEW [3,119 Theaters] Est Friday $15M, Est Weekend $38M

3. Star Wars 3D: Phantom Menace (LucasFilm/Fox) NEW [2,655 Theaters] Est Friday $8.5M, Est Weekend $22M

4. Journey 2: Mysterious Island 3D (Warner Bros) NEW [3,470 Theaters] Est Friday $6.5M, Est Weekend $21M

5. Chronicle (Fox) Week 2 [2,908 Theater] Est Friday $3.5M (-59%), Est Weekend $11M, Est Cume $39M

6. The Woman In Black (CBS Films) Week 2 [2,856 Theaters] Est Friday $3.4M (-58%), Est Weekend $11M, Est Cume $36.1M

7. The Grey (Open Road) Week 3 [2,801 Theaters] Est Friday $1.3M, Est Weekend $4.5M, Est Cume $42.4M

8. Big Miracle (Working Title/Universal) Week 2 [2,133 Theaters] Est Friday $952K (-59%), Est Weekend $3.5M, Est Cume $13M

9. The Descendants (Fox Searchlight) Week 13 [1,581 Theaters] Est Friday $900K, Est Weekend $3.5M, Est Cume $70.7M

10. One For The Money (Lionsgate) Week 3 [2,056 Theaters] Est Friday $725K, Est Weekend $2.2M, Est Cume $23.6M

Add On Too: The weekend finishes on a high note.

... The Vow opened to a sizable $41.7 million, followed closely by Denzel Washington-Ryan Reynolds action-thriller Safe House with $39.3 million. ...

Thus far, box office cash and fannies in the seats are up 11% over 2011.